MACHYNLLETH residents will not be given the chance to reject a traveller site in the town, it has emerged.

Machynlleth town councillor Gareth Jones questioned if Powys Council would be keeping to assurances given to councillors at a meeting at the end of October about the potential site.

Cllr Jones insisted that council officers had said they would send out letters regarding a full consultation and would allow residents the chance to oppose a traveller site in general.

But a Powys Council spokesperson dismissed that and said that, while an engagement event had been arranged in Machynlleth Bowling Club on Monday, 28 November, the council could not ignore an assessment which had identified a need for a site in Machynlleth with Welsh Government regulations ensuring that need must be catered for.

The spokesperson said: “The views of residents will be taken as part of the engagement event. However, at no point in the meeting did we agree for the residents to be able to confirm ‘whether they believe the Machynlleth area should have an official Gypsy/travellers site in the first place’.

“It was clearly explained to the town council several times during the meeting that the need for the site was following the results of the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment.

“Work is still ongoing regarding our preferred site. We will be able to announce further updates for residents at the engagement event on Monday, 28 November.”

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